Fire hose cabinet



Sept. 17, 1940. -v c. A. CORNELL l 2,214,761

FIRE HosE ABINET 5 l lFiled Aug. 9. 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 BY i (P A TTORNE YS Septu, .1940- l c. A. CORNELL 2,214,761v

FIRE H OSE CABINET Filed Aug. 9,'1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR CHAUNCEY A.CORNELL A TTORN E YS Flagsv Y -15 in condition to receive the same.

Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE HOSE CABINET deceased Application August 9, 1937, Serial No. 158,17 7

3 Claims.

The invention relates to fire apparatus of the type permanently installed in buildings and comprising a hydrant and a hose attached thereto and stored in an adjacent cabinet. With such apparatus the water is usually supplied under high pressure so that before the valve can be safely opened it is essential that the hose should be straightened. This usually requires the service of two men; one to draw out the hose and straighten the same; and the other to open the valve. It is the object of the present invention to obtain a construction which may be safely operated by one man and in which the water will be automatically turned on as soon as the hose is It is a further object to obtain an improved form of cabinet in which the hose is stored and which facilitates the very rapid withdrawal of the same. With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a iront elevation of the cabinet with the door open, but showing the mechanism Within the casing in the position where the door is closed;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through the hose supporting rack;

v3() Figure 4 is a cross section thereof on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the open cabinet with the mechanism in position Where the door is open;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the valve;

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of the valve and its operating mechanism.

My improved apparatus comprises a cabinet A provided with a hinged door B, preferably having a glass panel C through which the contained apparatus may be seen. Leading into this cabinet is a Water conduit D attached to a fitting E, which latter contains a quick opening valve F and a hose connection G. It may also, if desired, be

provided with a manually operable valve I-I controlling a separate hose connection I. J is a .hose connected to the fitting G and normally stored within the cabinet at one side thereof.

One of the features of my improvement is the means for holding the hose in stored position which as soon as the cabinet door is opened, will automatically move it into a position for quick withdrawal. This means comprises a bracket arm K which is pivotally attached to a bracket K' near the upper end and center of the cabinet so that when the arm K is turned inward, it will extend from the center to one side. Pivotally attached to the free end of the arm K is a hose rack L which normally lies adjacent to the side of the cabinet extending from the rear to the front thereof and 5 being adapted to support a series of hose loops. In specific construction this rack comprises an inverted channel-shaped member L of a width to receive the folded hose loops, rods L2 and L3 extending adjacent to the opposite sides of this 10 channel within the same, and a series of transversely extending supporting bars L4. Each of the bars L4 is formed with an eye L5 at one end thereof which slidably engages the rod L3. At the opposite end the bar L4 has a portion L6 15 which rests upon the rod L2, the latter, as shown, being formed by a slotted return-bent flange on one side of the member L. The rod L3 With which the eyes L5 are engaged, extends outward through the forward open end of the channel L 20 and is then curved to form a segmental loop L". The other rod L2 ends within the channel and the arrangement is such that each of the cross rods L4 when drawn outward on the rods L2 and L3 will first disengage the end L6 to allow it to 25 drop and will then be swung around the loop L7.v This permits of successively drawing out the loops of the hose and as each bar L4 is disengaged from the rod L2 it will free the loop and will itself be moved out of the path of a succeed- 30 ing bar.

The valve F which controls the passage of water from the conduit D to the hose fitting G is adapted to be quickly opened after the hose is withdrawn from the rack. To accomplish this `35 the valve preferably comprises a disk F which is closed against the seat F2 against the water pressure being provided with a guide stem F3 and an operating stem F4. The latter extends upward through the cover F5 and is threaded at its up- 40 per end to receive the adjustable bearing F6 and locknut F7. The bearing F6 engages a cam M on a shaft M journaled in brackets M2 rising from the cover F5. M3 is a lever attached to the shaft M' normally extending upward therefrom 45 and engaging a bifurcated bracket M4 in which position the cam M engaging the stem F4 will hold the valve F to its seat. The outer end of the lever M3 is connected by a strap M5 with a loop J in the hose J extending upward from the 50 hose fitting G. Thus, whenever the hose is drawn out and straightened this loop J through the strap M5 will pull downward the lever M3, turning the cam M to a position where the valve disk F will be automatically opened by the water 55 pressure. Accidental operation of the lever is prevented by spring clips M6 in the bifurcated bracket M4, the tension of which is suicient to normally hold the lever from disengagement.

When the hose J is drawn out from the cabinet it may be carried in any direction therefrom before it is completely straightened. I, therefore, provide means for automatically swinging the arm K outward whenever the cabinet door B is opened and into a position where its outer end is at the center and completely clear of the cabinet. This permits the rack L to turn on its pivotal connection with the arm K into alignment with the direction in which the hose is being drawn, thereby permitting the loops to be easily disengaged from the channel L' and the bars L4. The means for actuating the arm K is a spring K2 secured to the cabinet and bearing against said arm when in folded position and the door of the cabinet bearing against the outer end of the channel member L will hold the parts in this position as long as the cabinet is closed, but as soon as the door is o-pened the spring will throw the arm K outward into the central position. To hold it in this position there is a bracket N secured to the top of the cabinet having a iinger N forming a stop for the arm K on one side and a latch finger N2 for engaging the opposite side of the arm. The outer end of the hose is provided with a suitable nozzle O which has a flange O for supporting it in a slotted bearing at the outer end of the channel L.

With an apparatus constructed as above described, whenever it is needed for use it is only necessary for the operator to open the cabinet door take hold of the nozzle O and draw the hose outward in the direction in which it is needed. After all of the loops supported on the bars L4 have been disengaged therefrom, the final straightening of the hose will draw downward the loop J', and this actuating the lever M3 and the cam M will permit the automatic opening of the valve F by water pressure. The fact that the hose has been drawn straight before the water is released will prevent any reaction which would otherwise occur. To avoid any danger of the valve sticking to its seat a lever M7 engaging a fulcrum M8 has one end extending beneath the nut F7 and the other end in the path of the lever M3. Thus the pulling down of the lever by the hose will positively disengage the valve from its seat.

If desired, the cabinet may also be provided with an electric light P controlled by a switch Q which will be automatically closed when the door B is opened, thereby providing the necessary illumination. The strap M5 is in the form of a loop of suflicient size not to restrict the hosev when lled out by Water pressure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a i-lre apparatus, a cabinet, a hydrant within said cabinet, an arm pivotally secured within said cabinet to swing outward therefrom, a hose support pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, said support including a series of arms for engaging individual hose loops, guides on which the opposite ends of said arms are slidably supported, said arms being permanently secured to one of said guides and slidable olf the end of the other guide, whereby drawing the end of said hose will swing said arm out of said cabinet carrying the hose support therewith and the individual loops of said hose will be successively disengaged from said arms.

2. In a ire apparatus, a cabinet having a door for closing the same, a hydrant within said cabinet, an arm pivotally secured Within said cabinet, a hose support pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, said support including a series of arms for engaging individual hose loops, guides on which the opposite ends of said arms are slidably supported, said arms being permanently secured to one of said guides and slidable 0E the end of the other guide, and means automatically operating upon the opening ofthe door of said cabinet for swinging said first mentioned arm and the hose support pivotally secured thereto out of said cabinet, whereby the drawing of said hose will successively disengage said loops from their supporting arms.

3. In anre apparatus, a cabinet, a door for closing said cabinet, a hydrant within said cabinet, an arm pivotally secured Within said cabinet to swing outward therefrom, a hose support pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, said support including a series of arms for engaging individual hose loo-ps, guides on which the opposite ends of said arms are slidably supported, said arms being permanently secured to one of said guides and slidable oir the end of the other guide, means automatically operating upon the opening of said door for swinging said first men.- tioned arm with its free end out of said cabinet, and latch means for holding said arm stationary in its outer position, whereby the drawing of said hose in any direction will permit the successive disengagement of said loops from the arms supporting the same.

CHAUNCEY A. CORNELL. 

